Anwar: Budget fails to address cronyism, monopolies

The Budget 2013 offers "small doses" of election goodies and fails to address basic structural problems such as cronyism and monopolies, said Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

In an immediate reaction to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's budget speech this evening, Anwar said the budget contained elements of gimmick that was "over the top".

However, said the Permatang Pauh MP, it is a budget that is not based on domestic capabilities and international scenarios, joining the chorus of doubt on the freshly-unveiled budget's ability to tackle the country's economic situation.